, 1887-06-18
supEasTlrloNs IN INDIA.
Resorts Tor Departed spirits-A sInguIa
Ceretnony-Sacred Cattle.

Resorts for Departed spirits-A singular
Cersmony-sacred Cattle.
The pepul trees in India are supposed
to be- the favorite resorts for such de-
parted spirits as, from various causes,
Lave not vet been clothed with nov,
bottles. TIE natives put lighted LAMPS
il the earthcn pots, which are suspended.
from the branches of the trees, so that
as they express 1.-THE souls of their
relatives may be in light.
From tune immemorial it has been
their custom, when one of the family
dies, to suspend an earthen pot from q
pepul tree, and for ten successive days to
bring offerings Of water and rice. with q
lighted lamp, for the benefit of the de-
parted. On the tenth day. the pot is
broken and a feast Is made for the Bruh-
Minis. ID
In Calcutta feasts Of this character arc
often given. a wealthy merchant once
made one for the benefit of his deceased
mother. The number of guests was esti-
mated at two hundred thousand, and the
expense of the feast, together with the
presents made, was estimated at seventy
five thousand dollars.
Ceremonies for the repose Of the soul
are exceedingly Numerous in tliis strance
land, and the efficacy of the same in
somo instances for the benefit of the de-
ceased relatives is supposed 10 depend
very much upon the place where it is
performed.
Here is a very singular ceremony:
The son of a deceased person procures
one male and four female calves. These
are tied to five posts neal an altar, con-
structed for the occasion. Four learned
Brahmins sit on the four sides of the
altar and offer a burnt sacrifice. A fifth
Brahmin reads certain passages IN the
'.Shasters" to drive away evil spirits.
The son washes the tail of the male calf,
and with the same water presents q drink
offering to his deceased ancestors. TIE
male and the female calves are then
gravely united in wedlock. During the
marriage ceremony many formulas are
repeated, in which the parties are recon-
mended to cultivate love and mutual
sympathy.
h Brahmins. having performed the
duties of their sacred office, are dismissed
with presents, including the four blides;
but the bridegroom is dedicated to SILVA
according to Hindoo mythology, the
husband of Kali-and allowed to run ut
large until Ole age carries him off.
These vagrant calves may almost be
said to constitute of the numerous
orders of religious mendicants, OF holy
beggar5. As no provision is made for
their daily wants, and as they are under
h necessity of securing their living,
they become very cunning, and are
scarcely less impudent than tho bipeds
constituting the other orders of that fra
ternity.
1t is not uncommon for them to walk
up unbidden to the stalls where vegetables
are for sale and help themselves. Being
esteemed sacred, the poor, deludcd in.
habitants dare to use only the most gentle
means of Kidding themselves Of their I'M
profitable customers.
During the first year or two these cattle
faro rather scantily, but after having
learned their sacred functions they live
well, n are the latest and best looking
of all the animals to lie seen in Uindostan.
The Shasters teach that the souls OF the
departed are divided into five classes.
Those of the first class reunite with
Brahm, the eternal spirit, and thus lose
their individuality. The second are ad-
mitted to the various heavens Of the gods.
The third are punished in places of tor
ment. The fourth again become the or
spring of human parents. The fifth be-
come beasts, birds and insects. Hence,
should a Hindoo inhale an insect with
his breath, he knows not but, in so doing,
he has swallowed some departed relative
possibly his own father. There is one
sect who, to prevent so horril q catastro-
pho, wear a straine~ over the MOUTH
Philadelphia Saturday night.